WEC does in Ocala. The new place east of Tampa does whose name escapes me lol. Like $100 a day.
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Some competitions are considered a perk, so they can gather volunteers with little issue. When I’ve scribed for higher end shows, it’s often volunteer, but those organizing committees usually take good care of the volunteers in ways other than payment. Many have housing available for multiple day workers, they almost always provide food while you’re onsite, swag, and admission to the grounds for rest of the competition for multiple day workers.
Local shows without a strong GMO often have a very difficult time getting enough volunteers in many places I’ve seen. Plus, shows that use electronic scribing like having people that are willing to come back over and over again once they’ve gotten them trained on the system. It’s way easier to get people back when they are getting paid. Especially when fuel is $4+ a gallon.
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Agree 100%. Scribes should be paid. The show secretaries are, the show manager is, the water/drag ring crew is, the show farrier is (by the horse owner) the show vet is (by the owner), the TD/show steward is, the EMT is, the trainer riding the horse in the test you’re scribing is paid, the groom who dressed the horse in the ring is paid, the judge is paid, the food vendor is, the show photographer/videographer is, and the announcer is.
Scribes are essential to a dressage show and they deserve to be paid.
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We get paid at recognized shows here in Florida.
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I couldn’t agree more. It’s a lot of work. I’ve been paid once or twice, but mostly it’s been a volunteer gig.
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WEC does in Ocala. The new place east of Tampa does whose name escapes me lol. Like $100 a day
Wow - clearly I’m on the wrong coast!!
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I couldn’t agree more. For me to scribe at our CDIs, I need to take 3 days off work, get up at 5:30 each day and drive over an hour each way and / or pay for a hotel closer to the venue, and work a 10-hour day in all weather conditions, without even being reimbursed for my gas money. I really enjoy scribing but because of how time consuming and expensive it is, I only book one show a year now, and then do emergency backup at other shows should a scribe have to cancel last minute.
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The show secretary and manager are not always paid either, especially for non-recognized shows.
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I haven’t been involved with the competition world for several years, but at some shows in our area, it used to be that the scorers were paid but the scribes were not. I do not know if that has changed, but it certainly needs to. It might help those (frequent) situations where the sponsoring organization is still trying to rustle up volunteer scribes right up until show day. I remember more than a few shows where scribes called in sick or didn’t show up, and the show manager had to fill in as scribe until they could find someone else willing and able to do it.
I love Janice - and she can be tough! (I take lessons from her). I’m glad you had such a good experience, and hope you keep scribing!
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I do plan to continue, in fact they already asked me to scribe for the next show! I’ll be out of the country for that one, but back for June.
Which makes the above discussion about “scribes should be remunerated” timely. If they do give me anything of value beyond lunch as a thank you for scribing, does that mean I’ve technically gone “dressage pro” scribing before I’ve ever RIDDEN a dressage test for a judge?
If so, no wonder scribes are scarce!
no. It does not affect your AA status.
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I know this is a bit off the date of the initial post, but for volunteer positions, the USEA has a number of well done volunteer training videos. Including one for scribing. https://useventing.com/events-competitions/volunteers/volunteer-videos
I find the short hand sheet that the USDF produced to be most helpful too! I always stick that on the front of my ring clipboards. https://www.usdf.org/edudocs/competition/usdf_guide_for_scribes2012.pdf (pg 3).
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Judging does not affect one’s AA status, either.
Thanks for the links!
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Glad on both counts.
As stated scribing and judging does not change a persons professional status
As for why scribes are scarce I would put that on these rules ,
Scribes (including electronic scribes) must not be an owner, coach, trainer or family member of a competitor/horse in the class(es) in which they are scribing.
It is strongly recommended that scribes not compete before judges with whom they have worked at the same competition. ( in other words you cannot scribe for judge Jones until after you have ridden your last test for them)
You should not change the scribe for a judge more than once a day
…end rulebook quotes…
When they brought in the friends and family rule, I knew that would instantly eliminate a lot of a volunteer pool at a show…
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People are simply afraid of the role and/or take it for granted that someone else will do it. Our GMO held a popular scribing and scoring clinic when I was prez and it was well attended and got great feedback. Guess what…it did eff all for the rates at which peeps agreed to do either at a SCHOOLING show. Where 90% of the rides are lower than training 3. It’s an easy and enjoyable job. People just don’t volunteer.
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I don’t see anywhere that friends are mentioned. You’d never have any scribes ever if a scribe couldn’t be a friend of a competitor. I’m usually friends, or at least friendly, with probably 50% of the competitors at when I scribe at our GMO’s recognized shows. I just keep my mouth shut, lol.
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You took me too literally
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